Distance Between Stars - Aura and Cygnus

"Aura.... The dragon of truth."

She blinked at sat up immediately at the sound of the man's voice in her head, reliving a past event. Sweat trickled down her forehead in little beads as she breathed heavily, staring out into the darkness. She drew her knees up to her chest and held them tightly as she took a few moments to calm herself, beginning to realize that no one was actually there and it was just her - alone. She gave a sigh of relief and nuzzled into her knees, closing her heavy eyes sleepily and whimpered. It had seemed like forever that she'd been traveling.

The last time that she had saw him... Staring back at her with golden eyes as equally confused as she - both uncertain of what to say. It was the only thing he could offer her as the gift of freedom; the advice to run away while she still could. That had not been the plan. She wanted to stay and help him, she wanted to learn more about the "truth," and even though he had told her repeatedly that she was the truth - she did not know anything. What truth lay within her if she knew not even a lie?

But her breath fogged in the cold night air when she released another heavy sigh, knowing that she would not return to sleep. Instead she had risen from the leaves she lay in, and stretched her wings. Lifting her chin she looked up at the moon, still high in the sky and shining brilliantly. It didn't take much before she lost herself in the numerous stars that twinkled beside it; how close they all seemed from here.

After she found herself from a quick daydream she began to walk through the forest, her wings dragging behind her and collecting dust as she went, too tired to care for them at the moment. They were a nuisance that was for sure. The sound of twigs cracking in the distance made her perk up her head, as she jumped between the trees she peered around its mighty trunk to investigate. There was nothing, of course, probably a small animal scurrying around looking for food. Her gaze eased, the coast was clear, and she continued.

It felt like she'd been walking for hours, her feet began to ache. She found a couple rocks neatly fallen beside a stream where she sat and stared down into the water, glancing at her reflection. She looked like a mess, her hair fallen over her shoulders and face; dress stained with dirt and dust where she'd gotten stuck in brush and slept on the cold ground. What could she do about it, if there was no where else to go?

She dipped her hands in the water and brought it up to her cheek, smearing some of the dirt off and cleaning her skin of the texture. It was cold, but even colder once the breeze picked up and hit her. Though something in the wind had shifted, and it made her tense. The ground began to rumble and pebbles shake. She winced and looked around for a place to hide, but she had ventured out into an open field. Instead of running, she froze and lifted her wings, flinching as she drew them out in front of her and hid behind the feathers, hoping that she would not be attacked.

Peeking through her fingers she watched as a magnificent being flew by, almost so fast her eyes could not catch it. Unable to make out too many of its features, she noticed it looked similar to a dragon, with a silver face. Odd... She thought, it certainly reminded her of someone else she knew quite some time ago...

Shaking her head from the bad thoughts, she decided it was time to find a real shelter, and stop being so careless. If this thing she had to protect was really real, then she had better take it seriously instead of being so.. helpless. Though it was certainly hard, when there was no guidance, especially since she knew not what to do...

As soon as she rose to dust herself off, she heard a voice sneak through the silence.

"Why, hello there."

She quickly turned around, her eyes widening in fear as she stared at the owner, his red eyes flashing. They felt like a thousand knives on her when he stared back; his black hair fell a bit over his face and most of his features covered by what looked like armor.

"It's been...quite a while, huh, Aura?" He winked and put his hands behind his back, holding them in one another as he paced in a circle around her. "Brother told me you weren't too far away, boy was he right, you really aren't that good at hide and seek, are you?"

Aura threw her hands down in front of her and lowered her head, "Leave me alone!" She lifted her wings defensively.

The man tilted his head and blinked, glancing over at her. "What's the matter? Don't you remember me?"

Aura looked back at him, studying him hard, for a long time before she recognized his features. He seemed familiar... but...

"Let me guess... Cygnus brainwashed you, didn't he? You poor thing." The man reached out his hand to touch her cheek, stroking it softly. "You've been alone for too long, haven't you? It must be scary out here in this big world by yourself."

Aura's lip quivered, she knew it was the truth, or at least her heart sure made it seem that way. All of the pain from being alone flooded her thoughts and she gave in, whimpering softly trying to hold back her tears. "Noctis. That's your name. Your name is Noctis. I didn't forget it."

Noctis eased and returned his hand to his side, slightly grinning to himself. "That's a good girl. Why don't you come home, where you belong?"

Aura lifted her head. "I could come home?"

"Why certainly," He replied.

"I... wasn't banished?"

"Banished? Is that what Cygnus told you?"

She shook her head. "No... but.. I thought.... the truth.."

Noctis blinked. "The truth, what truth is that?"

She shook her head once more, grasping her temples. "The truth... I... I don't know!" She flinched again and closed her eyes tightly.

"There, there," Noctis fed her false concern as he pulled her into his arms. "Everything will be alright."

Aura let him hold her for a few moments, it felt nice to feel the warmth of another being. It felt nice to be around someone she knew, even though a pang of guilt tugged on her heart, and for some reason, she had a bad feeling about him being there. It was so easy to give into temptation...

"Where is Cygnus?" Aura asked, breaking the silence.

"Don't worry about him." Noctis released her and turned to raise his hand, creating a portal from a dark magic that came from his palms. "Brother takes very well care of traitor's like him."

Aura winced. "Traitor?"
Noctis nodded. "Let's go home."




It had been a long time since she had stepped into the palace. It was full of pureness and marble pillars that held its structure together, glistening brilliantly against the sun's warm rays of light. She gazed in awe, her heart swirling with anticipation that she had finally gotten to return home. Noctis looked down at her through the corner of his eye and gave a sly smile. "I see you can hardly contain your excitement," He said as he continued forward, with her following behind him.

They walked to one side of the room where it was decorated with beautiful vines and roses, in front a small white table was lined with papers and fruits neatly collected in a decorative bowl. Aura looked up as she noticed a figure leaning against one of the pillars near them. Noctis waved his hand, flagging the other man down. "I've returned, brother!" He said cheerfully. "Look who I have brought with me!"

The being did not move from his position, but she noticed his eyes slowly slid to glance over at them, seemingly without interest, until he shifted his legs and moved to face them. Immediately he crossed his arms, revealing a very confident pose. He was certainly intimidating, if anything. The silver from his headpiece caught a ray of light and shimmered, she winced as she recalled the being that flew over head earlier, it had been wearing something similar. No, she thought, I was dreaming. A day dream.

"Aura, it has been a long time." The voice was calm, but charming as it came, "It is a shame we have had to spend such years away from one another. Yet, that is not your fault, of course."

He turned back around and put his hand on the balcony's guard, sliding his fingers across the smooth surface as he looked up at the sky. He stared at it long and hard, almost as if he was reading something from it. Aura watched him, her head slightly tilting to observe him.

"Why," he began, "did you run from us?"

Aura blinked. She hadn't really known the answer to that question. The only thing she could think of was the day that Cygnus told her to flee, that was all she could remember. All of the other pieces seemed to be missing. "I... don't know."

"Had Cygnus said something to you?"

She stared at the back of his head, unsure of if it was still safe or not to trust him. They seemed so inviting, and to care about her, unlike Cygnus whose cold words was the one who got her in this situation. Her memories were beginning to become less and less credible....

Giving in, she nodded. "He said, I have the truth."

There was a long pause, silence flooded the room and drowned any other thought before it could become words. Noctis was still grinning, but even he said nothing as he patiently awaited his 'brother's' motive.

Kaiser chuckled a little, and it wasn't long before he was bursting out into laughter. Aura was confused, so she remained silent, unsure of what was funny about it. The truth... maybe it was just imaginary.

"What truth is that?" Kaiser asked.

"I questioned the same thing, my brother." Noctis giggled as well.

Aura shook her head, bringing her hands up to her temples like before. "I... I don't know."

Kaiser turned back around, a big smile on his face, but when he looked down at noticed her, his expression shifted quickly to serious. His golden eyes staring down on her... when she looked up at him to see his reaction, she saw Cygnus for a brief moment, until reality shook her. They both had the same eyes. Cold, harsh, uninviting...

"Dragon of truth," Kaiser addressed her, "who knows not truth."

Aura looked at the ground and said nothing. Noctis listened in, looking quite prepared and interested in the leader's speech.

"Do you wish to know the truth?" Kaiser began to pace as he spoke. "Cygnus is the liar. He convinced you to leave us for his own benefit; the very day that you left he rose his sword to me - his own blood - and threatened the end of my days should I not resign my title."

Aura closed her eyes. Something about what he was saying did not seem right at all...

"Do you not see it, Aura? We should not obey humans, we are the ones with power, and knowledge. How dare our kind be the ones to submit to the filth that inhabits the good lands below? The day father introduced the humans and demand we bow in their honor - I knew immediately that I would not be the one to do so. My heart was filled by vengeance and I went to father many times. He only scolded me and my apparently closed-minded ways. I was cast out as an exile, and a disgrace. I thought that title was unfitting, and I swore that I would have my revenge..."

"However, I soon learned that I was not the only one who felt this way. What of the rest of our brothers and sisters? Rouge, Altair, Noctis - you, what of you, Aura? Where do you stand? On this so called side of light? I do not know all of what Cygnus has taught you - but if you believe that he has shown you ways without darkness - then that too, is a lie. There is darkness in the heart of every being."

Kaiser paused and looked at her. "Without darkness, there could be no light. Without day, without night."

Aura looked up to him. "Then what is right and wrong? I do not understand."
Kaiser smiled. "A matter of opinion."

Noctis nodded, "It seems she does not understand."

"Unfortunate," Kaiser added, "She has not been exposed to what we have, we must make an exception. Shall you take her to him?"

Noctis lowered his head and smiled. "Certainly, m'lord."

"So long as a being is enabled the freedom to think, and the individual to be allowed difference, then two men will not think the same. Their differences is what drives them to fight, but sometimes, it can also bring them together, remember this." Kaiser approached her, looking her straight in the eyes.

"What you may see as wrong, your brother may see as right..." He whispered, "...be careful who you choose."

Noctis took her hand and tugged her away, leading her into another room. Aura looked back as they walked, watching as Kaiser returned to the balcony to stare out at the sky. Noctis lead her through a long hallway that seemed to go on for eternity. There was not much to it, white walls and white floors, that light flickered through the vines overhead and created dancing shadows in the wind when it blew.

When they finally reached their destination, the scene grew darker. It was a place not touched by the light, darkness filled the room and cold bars caged in spaces that were once filled by undesirables. There seemed to be another being in the room, trapped inside one of the cages. He sat on a bench inside and stared long and hard at the ground that was covered in puddles from the leaky water.

Noctis smiled and let her go, turning around to leave her and the stranger in the same room. She was unsure why, and a little frightened, it was almost too dark to see his face. The man listened until the footsteps disappeared, and when it was safe he lifted his head, looking up to stare over at the girl, seeing she was returning his gaze.

She took a moment to study his features, the dim light made it difficult but she strained her eyes to see. Her heart beat was slow and felt as if it would stop, when she finally recognized him, she rushed to the bars and tried to stick her hands through it to touch him, but he drew away.

"Why did you come back here?" His voice was deep, and cold. Such as it had always been, even when she knew him back then. Ebony strands of hair fell forward, covering him like a fallen angel, his eyes closed.

"Are you not happy to see me? Such as I am you?" Aura made the disappointment in her voice apparent, still trying desperately to touch him.

"You disobeyed me." He growled, and she withdrew her hand.

"It is okay now. I was not banished. I am fine, you see?" She half smiled, trying to make him understand the words that Kaiser had told her. "He told me it is not us. It is the humans, the humans are the bad ones."

Cygnus winced. "Do you call me a liar?"

Aura shook her head. "I never said it."

"I told you to leave." His eyes began to glow, "Why have you dishonored my wishes?!"

She backed away a little, whimpering in fear. Once he noticed her reaction he tried his best to calm himself, but his anger was already made known. He sat back down and returned to his previous pose with a heavy sigh.

"Each day that passes... I become more like father..." His voice was softer now.

Aura moved closer again, and sat down in front of the cage on the ground, caring not for how much it would dirty her dress. It was already stained. Cygnus looked over to observe her. He could tell she'd been out in the world by herself, and too helpless to care for her well being. She was dirty, and scratched up here and there, it looked as if she hadn't eaten for a while. There was only a little flicker of hope still left in her eyes.

"What happened to him?" Aura asked. "What happened to you?"

Cygnus turned his face away. "He was a good man. He was just in pain. I was too arrogant to see it," he sighed, "On the day that he separated all of us, I went to him, and I asked him, 'Why do you do this to your children? Why have you let your heart become so cold?' He turned to me and struck me so hard I found myself in next week, bloodied and bruised. I had never felt so terrified or so much pain, that I never dare questioned him again. But when I saw his head fall, and mother place her hand on his shoulder, there was such remorse in my heart that I picked up a sword and I ran to Kaiser, and vowed to slay him."

"But why? Why kill Kaiser? What did he do?" She asked.

"He is the one who started all of this. His jealousy. Kaiser is a man of good word, he can convince the wealthy to steal if he wished. As a matter of fact, his words is what got me in this place." Cygnus shook his head. "He has claimed my throne, talking the others into believing that what he is doing is what is correct. That they too, must find a reason to hate the mortals. It is not what is right. They turn to the lies because they do not want to hear the truth."

"The truth..." She repeated. "You said... something about me and the truth....I don't know any truth...."

Cygnus looked at her. "When the time is right, it shall come to you."

He stopped as he heard footsteps approaching. His voice turned to a harsh whisper as he tried to finish what he was saying, "Until then, do not believe Kai-"

"Aura, surely you'd like to reunite with the others. I think he has given more than enough time to explain himself." Noctis was met at the door, and he shot Cygnus a hateful glare. "Maybe you have a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong."

Aura shook her head, "I still don't---"

"Come, now," he insisted, reaching for her hand again.
She pulled away. "I need more time!"

Noctis gripped her wrist and tugged her from the room. She looked back at Cygnus for help, but he had lowered his head, refusing to see. He knew he was defeated, even though deep inside all of his hate was gathering like a huge storm. He listened to the girl struggle and it wasn't long before the room was silent again, all except for the sound of dripping water.

"I am sorry," he whispered.

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